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Island Snapdragon Wikimedia Commons
Plantaginaceae

Island Snapdragon

Gambelia speciosa

Grace under adversity.

Family
Plantaginaceae
Genus
Gambelia
Native to
Channel Islands of California, Baja California
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
evergreen shrub
Height
60-200 cm
Sunlight
full sun to partial shade
Soil
well-drained, rocky
Water
low
Hardiness
9-11
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Island snapdragon's scarlet tubular flowers are specially adapted for pollination by hummingbirds.
  • The plant can grow on rocky cliff faces with almost no soil, anchoring itself into crevices.
  • It is a sprawling shrub that can cascade beautifully over walls and slopes in garden settings.
  • The species name 'speciosa' means 'showy' or 'beautiful' in Latin.
  • Despite being called a snapdragon, it belongs to a different genus than common garden snapdragons.

Color meanings

0

deception

1

grace

2

presumption

Uses

  • native plant gardens
  • rock gardens
  • drought-tolerant landscaping
  • hummingbird gardens